A beast awakens

[Almira Izlay'ti]

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There were still a few things left to be collected, yet much of the house had been picked clean. All that remained in the large study was the massive desk and a simple chair. Most of the furniture would be remaining, and hopefully, hopefully when the world was taken by another, or when their absence was noticed, the house would remain intact. Taking a moment for herself, red hues looked across the room, peering from behind the desk as she rest her chin upon her clasped hands. Memories flooded back of a lifetime spent in the study when she had returned home from her father's. She was always underfoot, watching and listening to her mother or the wailing of a new sibling. ​

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Smiling to herself, she began to readjust her posture when it happened. Her hand slipped, hitting the desk hard. The next quick succession of events was surprising as the desk seemed to whir to life. The shutters of the windows quickly closed before the lights in the room dimmed to near darkness. The desk top opened, slipping back to the sides as a hologram projector was brought up from its recessed hideaway. ​

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Soon the room was bathed in a blue flickering light and there it was before her. The image slowly rotating, the designs that could have just as easily been over looked. Taking a moment to still her beating heart, she took in a deep breath. Closing her eyes before opening them once more, her red hues peering upon the image. Leaning forward, her hand came up, as if she were attempting to hold the image though it were solid. ​

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She was not the only one whom was surprised. An aide or rather the young woman that had constantly been at her mother's side hadn't even known. Looking upon it, she gasped slightly at the magnitude of such a project and it was clear that the Duchess had intended for it to be finished. ​

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A small flicker on the lower corner even showed such. It was a countdown and it was apparently just days away. Though beyond the simple image, there seemed nothing more to the vessel. Nor did any additional information become apparent when it was looked into. All that could come from her lips was a question of awe and curiosity. ​

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"Can it be possible?" ​

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[Almira Izlay'ti]

"Mother... What were you thinking?" ​

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A question that could have easily been poised by any whom found the desk and the information it was hiding. The vessel was massive in comparison to those that Magrath Industries had built before. Such a behemoth was going to take massive amounts of resources, and it was certain that such a thing could not have been developed in secret. Someone would have talked, the information should have gotten out. Yet there it was, the image slowly rotating and flickering and not a single bit of news or information on it was known beyond what was before her. ​

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"It has to be impossible. Nothing this size could remain hidden." ​

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It was a simple notion, one that Almira had to find out if it were true or not. Looking back to the young woman that stood next to the chair, she could tell that even she was seeing this for the first time. Turning back to the image, her hand slowly ran along the sides of the table, seeing the large screen that had been revealed as well. ​

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Slender fingers lightly came to rest upon the keys of a simple keyboard. The Aurebesh lettering prominent upon them as she nodded softly to herself. Without thinking she began to type in requests into the computer. Each time it was the same, no information on the project could be found. There was not a trace of information that lead anywhere beyond a simple rejection, or stating that it simply did not exist. ​

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"Curiouser and curiouser..." ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

Slowly leaning back in her chair, she began to think of such possibilities that caused her mother to even fathom such a thing. Had she known of an end to her life before it had happened? It couldn't be possible that she was constructing this thing in secret as a measure of defense. A massive beast raising for a world to defend it, such notions were those of fairy tales, and yet here such a notion was. Closing her eyes and taking a breath, she took a moment for herself. Slowly leaning forward, she brought her hands up once more, resting her chin upon them. Opening her eyes slowly she brought her hand to the side, pressing the button as the room began to return to normal. ​

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"Not a word of this to anyone. I want this desk brought aboard the Hera. There may yet still be things I can learn from it. Remember Sera, no one." ​

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With a soft nod the young woman stepped out of the room, only to return a few moments later with a group of workers to remove the desk. Standing up from the chair, Almira motioned to it as well. She wasn't about to leave her mother's favorite chair and take her desk. Turning towards the windows, she clasped her hands behind her back. ​

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"Where are you?" ​

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She questioned to herself softly, low enough to prevent those in the room from hearing. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as the men removed the desk and chair before nodding to Sera. The young woman taking her leave as Almira returned to her thoughts. Her red hues focusing on the far space port and nodding to herself. The shipyards, it was bound to be there, it had to be there. Even if it was nothing more than just some little skeleton of a vessel, they had to know something. ​

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"Sera! Have my speeder and an escort ready. I'm going to the shipyards." ​

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Pivoting on her foot, Almira moved with grace and the ferocity of a Nexu stalking its prey. Long tresses of white hair flowed behind her as her heavy boots thud against the marble flooring of the mansion. Soon it was a united sound of marching as a handful of guards surrounded her, following out to the waiting speeder. She had questions, and now she was looking for the answers. ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

Stepping out into the sun, her red hues fell upon the escort convoy that was to take her to the shipyards. Magrath Industries had paid a hefty price to craft and produce vessels, much less shipyards that were planetside rather than orbital. While it meant that much less could be made, they could also be made much more rapidly. Nodding to her escort, she slipped into the speeder, the others stepping into their escort vehicles before the convoy tore away from the gravel drive. ​

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Looking out the window, she watched as the massive trees planted on each side of the lane flew by. She figured it would be the last time she would get to see them and they were flying pass her. Sighing to herself she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. ​

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"Everything alright ma'am?" ​

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The voice pulled herself from her thoughts as she looked to the guard that was sitting facing her in the speeder. The driver and the man in the front seat kept their attention forward. Red hues moved over the soldier sitting there before she nodded softly. ​

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"Yes. Just memories." ​

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With a soft smile she turned her sight back to the outside world that was rushing by. The soldier nodding softly as he remained and returned to his own thoughts. Almira kept her sight focused as the convoy tore through the rather rural parts of the world, yet it was beginning to change rapidly. As soon as they pushed pass a massive wall, there it was. The dirty and dingy shipyards. ​

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A large swathe had been given to the company for such construction, and yet it still managed to keep much of the surrounding nature preserved. That was what she enjoyed most about the company. Even with it growing rapidly it still had time to ensure that it left the nature that surrounded it intact. Pulling herself together she braced as the convoy pulled to a stop outside of the main office. ​

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Without a word the door was pulled open, two guards flanking it on each side as the soldier stepped out first before motioning. Almira was quick to follow as she pushed her way into the building. It was a small headquarters, a branch office to the main building, though she knew what she was looking for. ​

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Heavy thudding of boots echoed as the workers quickly got out of the way of the soldiers and Almira. Many hadn't seen the members of the Magrath family and all they could do was stop and stare as she passed. Red hues fell upon each of them, though she made no motion, nor showed any disgust or otherwise any action to be taken against them. She merely passed them with a glance as she stepped into the main office. ​

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Within moments the door was shut and the blinds were quickly drawn. Almira looking upon the Duros whom sat behind the desk as she pulled out a small hologram projector. ​

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"What do you know of this?" ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

"What in the...." ​

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It was all the Duros could say, the being slowly standing as he looked at the vessel. His eyes went wide, or rather as wide as a Duro's eyes could go. His fingers reached out just as Almira had, attempting to hold the vessel as if it were a real model. the being kept his eyes on it for a moment before he pulled himself back to reality. ​

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"This is the first I'm seeing it. We've no such facility to even build such a.... such a beast." ​

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Almira felt disappointed and yet she knew that it was true. There was no way it could have been built at the shipyards. They were too small and the vessel was too large. Even when the Hera was commissioned it was a massive undertaking that required the shipyards to be expanded. Sighing softly she looked to the Duros as she clicked the small hologram projector closed and slipped it into her pocket. ​

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"Not a word to anyone. You never saw this." ​

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With a quiet nod the Duros fell back into his chair. His mind racing with the possibility that such a creation was hiding somewhere in the system. Turning back towards the door, Almira slipped out as the soldiers formed around her. Quickly moving through the halls and back to the convoy. ​

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It was a dead end, yet she had to keep pushing. Taking her seat in the back of the speeder once more, she closed her eyes. Slowly opening them, red hues looked upon the soldier as she placed her finger over her lips. Closing the shutter between the back seat and the front, the glass slowly faded to darken the back seat. Pulling out the small hologram projector again, she pulled up the design. The soldier looking on in awe as Almira studied it. ​

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Her eyes were drawn to the blinking. The numbers that looked like a countdown. The numbers that had not moved. Then it finally hit her. Looking shocked she quickly pulled out a datapad that was resting in the small console in the back. The numbers being thrown in before the image quickly changed. Soon the holographic projector was blinking not the design of the vessel, it was showing the world where the beast was hidden. ​

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"Danalia..."​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

Danalia, a world of rocks, mountains and more rocks. It had for near countless millenia provided the raw materials that Magrath Industries turned to all manner of things. Of course it was logical now that such a world would also hide something like this beast. It was a world that her mother kept a number of hidden little projects upon, where she could easily play dumb should a single one of them ever be found. ​

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"Cleaver girl..." ​

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She mused to herself before turning on the comlink within the speeder. ​

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"Take me to the space port. I want my shuttle ready when I arrive. We're making a trip to Danalia." ​

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A simple nod was all that was needed, the outline of the driver relaying the message as the convoy quickly turned away from its course. Leaning back in her seat, her red hues remained upon the image of the world. A small arrow slowly appearing and pointed to a mountainous range in the far north of the planet. ​

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"There." ​

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She said to herself and looked more closely at the image. It had to be there, hidden beneath the ice. Her thoughts were pulled back when the convoy stopped, the door being pulled open as she slipped out of her seat. Moving towards the old Lambda shuttle craft as she boarded. Motioning for those that had arrived with her to follow. She didn't know what she was about to walk into, yet she wanted some security with her on the off chance something did happen. ​

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Taking a seat, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Her thoughts returning, memories flooding as she thought about what she had set out to discover. Listening to the humming of the engines, she felt as the shuttle shook and shuttered when the boarding ramp slammed closed and the vessel lifted from the landing pad. Soon it was shaking from the atmosphere, pulling itself into the empty void. It's nose pointed towards the dusty brown and grey speck in the distance. ​

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Red hues shot open as she stood from her seat. Stepping towards the cockpit and allowing a smirk to cross her lips. Her arms clasping her hands behind her back as she looked forward. There was where the beast was laying, or so she had hoped. ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

"Where are we landing Ma'am?" ​

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"Here."​

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Pulling the small projector from her pocket, Almira set it down on the console in front of the pilot. The image blinking to life as the arrow slowly pointed towards the northern mountain ranges. The ice and snow would be a perfect place to hide such a project. All that heat could easily be masked by the miles upon miles of ice and snow, though she knew that a small bit was bound to perk up a sensor or two. ​

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With a nod the pilot punched in the new course, the shuttle pulling away from its previous trajectory towards the planet. Sure enough a flurry of hails and messages began to flood the screen, all of which were simply cleared with a mention of whom was on board. Suddenly silence, not a single word was uttered beyond a clearance and an escort to her destination. ​

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The Magraths still had some power, and there were still those that feared and respected the name. With a quiet sigh she looked towards the world before her. The shuttle pulling closer towards the atmosphere before she pivoted upon her heel. Slipping back into her seat just as the shuttle began to shake and bounce against the atmosphere. The vessel finally cutting itself loose of the turbulence as it began to glide through the air. ​

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Without a warning though the shuttle began to shake again as it tore through a snow storm that was raging. The view screen covered in white as the pilot did her best to keep the vessel in line. The shuttle though pushed on, shaking and shuddering as it headed towards the location that had been set into its computers. ​

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They were lucky when the snow let up, the vision becoming clearer as the shuttle slowly came down. Slowly the boarding ramp came down, hitting the ground. The thud though sounded as if it were metal. Perking her interest even more, Almira was the first down the ramp, her boots pressing into the snow before she kicked it aside. Sure enough there it was, metal beneath her feet. Then the noise, the loud growling, moaning groan as the ground shook to life before slowly pulling itself down. A smirk on her lips as the began to descend down a massive shaft. ​

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"Cleaver girl indeed..." ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

Even in death she was still a woman of secrets and hidden trinkets. This though was something new even for Almira. Her eyes watched in amazement as the roof above began to slowly close, locking out the cold wind and snow as the elevator slowly descended. Then the noise began as she pulled her attention to the side. Red hues fell upon it, no them. Stepping forward she watched in amazement as three lumber beasts sat quietly. The finally preparations for their launch already underway. ​

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"I've still much to learn and much more to find." ​

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Almira spoke to herself as the elevator came to a stop. Shaking for a moment before it was pulled forward. Rushing from the shuttle craft, the soldiers themselves were even amazed as they came across the sight before them. The pilot was glued in her seat and unable to move as she watched the towering beasts rest idly. ​

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A voice then pulled Almira's attention away. Red hues falling upon an older Rodian male as she stood hunched over, his hand gripping an old cane. ​

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"We've been waiting... The mistress said you would arrive for the vessels..."​

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Almira turned back towards the vessels, then back to the Rodian male. Her red hues falling upon him as she stepped forward. The soldiers moving with her as she was about to speak. Yet not a single word was said as a simple motion was made to follow the older man. ​

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Nodding to her soldiers, they stepped forward behind her. Moving through the work areas where work quickly stopped. Those that stood in the hanger watched as she marched through. Many thinking they had seen a ghost as Almira moved just like her mother. A fluid motion of determination and desire. As she round the corner she stopped, her eyes falling up a holographic image of her mother smiling. ​

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"The mistress always said you would arrive to take the beasts into the darkness. They are ready." ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

"This way." ​

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The old rodian man spoke before moving down the hall, pushing open a set of large ornate doors. With in was a massive room, large tables and stands rest against the walls and even spread out across the room. Every manner of drawing and design was there. Everything from a simple crane to the massive plates that made up the primary structure of the vessels. Almira could see it in her mind, she could see her mother spending time in this room watching over every little thing that happened. ​

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"She spent many hours in here. She said they had to be ready before you arrived after she left." ​

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Nodding, Almira stepped forward, her hand lightly touching one of the physical plans of the vessels. Looking upon the beast that her mother had conceived and hidden from the galaxy. A small smirk crossing her lips as Almira stood there. ​

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"Just like her, to keep such a thing hidden." ​

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Almira looked up as she moved towards the large windows on the opposite side of the room. Red hues falling upon the vessels that lay ready in their berths. Her hands came up, gripping the railing as she held tightly. Her eyes moving over the vessels as she watched the supplies, soldiers and all manner of cargo and personnel being rushed onto the vessels. Soon they would require only her. She even watched as the shuttle she had arrived in was taken into the massive hangers. ​

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"When will they leave?" ​

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She had to ask, and the awe was clear upon her voice. She bothered not looking back at the Rodian, nor the soldiers whom moved around the room looking at the designs. With a single motion of her raising her hand, they began to pack up the designs, least they fall into another's hands. ​

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"With your command mistress." ​

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The Rodian spoke. That was what she was looking for, and a soft nod followed by her breaking the silence that fell upon the room. Slowly turning, she looked to those that had gathered. ​

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"Then they live." ​

 

[Almira Izlay'ti]

The room was cleared, as was much of the facility. Many of those whom had been seen upon her arrival were now no where to be found. The vessels were alive with activity, thousands upon thousands of individuals rushed about as they moved to their stations. Then the alarm began to blare. With a loud trembling shake, the massive doors above tore open through the ice and snow that had come to rest upon the metal doors. Chunks of ice and snow slammed below, raining down upon the empty work stations. ​

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Heavy boots sound upon the metal grating of the vessel's decks. A group of soldiers pushed forward towards the bridge as a white hair woman followed. Many quickly rushed out of the way, pushing themselves against the walls or averting their gaze. Some could do nothing more than watch as she moved by. Red hues focused forward as she stepped unto the bridge. Looking about as the crew quickly stood from their stations or stopped what they were doing. ​

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With a soft smirk she stepped forward. Pulling her arms behind her and clasping her hands together, she looked up at the open void above before nodding. ​

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"Give the command." ​

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The crew looked towards her as she looked back before a soft smirk crossed her lips once more. Red hues fell upon the communications office whom quickly opened a channel across the ship and to the two other vessels. Her voice rang out as she spoke. ​

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"This is Almira Magrath. Your command is simple." ​

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She paused for a moment. Closing her eyes and steeling herself as she thought back to the work her mother had done. All the work that had gone into keeping these beasts quiet and hidden. Now they would awaken and tear across the void of space. ​

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"Rise." ​

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With that simple word the vessels roared fully to life. The docking clamps and boarding ramps and arms quickly pulled away. The three vessels groaned and growled as they pulled up, the snow and ice being shaken from them. The behemoths were free, and now they rose to meet the Galaxy. ​